They infuse trip-hop's "signature" lo-fi beats, vintage synths, and jazzy bass with guitar and songwriting that leans toward the indie-rock vibe of their original home of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sprinkled into these grooves are eclectic snippets of other genres, from synth-pop to industrial to loungecore to staright-up rock. Finally, bringing it all together is a female voice that is a blend of numerous eras, from the torch singers of the '40s to the classic female rockers to the modern trip-hop singers.

Endless Blue, formed by vocalist Laura Hillman and producer Nick Mitchell in 2003, rose from the breakup of the Madison/Minneapolis electro-rock band STATE4. Leaving behind the frenetic, guitar-driven sound of their previous band, the duo quickly set off into the realm of dark downtempo. As the sound matured and the songwriting continued, Endless Blue added a second vocalist, jazzy crooner Amanda Oechsle. The trio recorded and released their self-titled debut, hitting the road for a short tour mid-2004.

In 2005, Mitchell and Hillman decided to relocate south to Milwaukee. Oechsle decided to leave Endless Blue and stay in Minneapolis, while the remaining members began work on their second release, Smoke Through It. The second Endless Blue album garnered significant college and public radio play, and the band toured regionally to support it. Mid-2006 found the band working on their next release and taking a break from live performance. The third release, Fever Dreams, was completed in late 2008 after a long three years of work and rework.

Fever Dreams

Smoke Through It